2015 Ultimate Wine Challenge Great Values Ultimate Wine Challenge 2015 recognizes the following products as Great Values: products with a favorable relationship between their price and final score at UWC. They are the finest wines within their respective price points. A note on the icons: Product Image: to assist you with visual identification, we've included an image for each product evaluated. (Please note that age statements, vintages or label may vary slightly from the specific product evaluated but it represents a helpful portrayal of the brand.) Click icon to view. Champagne/Sparkling Wines Champagne - France Award Score Chairman's Trophy 96 Champagne Marion-Bosser Premier Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (France), $51.99 The pinpoint mousse is delightfully prickly, clean, and refreshingly acidic. First nosings discover multiple layers of baker's yeast, sourdough, buttered toast, and lemon peel. In the mouth, the flavor profile explodes with stone dry, seed-like tastes of ripe grapes, citrus, sesame seed. The silky texture elegantly wraps the entire sensory experience with substance and class. Top-notch luxury. Great Value. Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 93 Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Rose Epernay (France), $55.00 Visual effect of the mesmerizing pale rose color is memorable. First inhalations feature subtle fragrances of ripe peach, nectarine, pink grapefruit, black grapes, raisins. Taste profile highlights the orchard fruit freshness and tanginess that's both acidic and moderately tannic, but dazzlingly concentrated on grapiness. Finishes long and languid. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 92 Champagne Marion-Bosser Brut Tradition Champagne (France), $45.99 Pleasant toasty aromas of just baked brioche mix with undertones of honeyed almond and white flowers. The mousse is creamy on the palate, with bright lemony flavors augmented by crisp minerality and a chalky finish. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 92 Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Epernay (France), $41.00 Pale straw tone. Mineral, limestone aromas on the nose. Apple tastes on the palate, an appealing hint of crisp pear character also come across. Bubbles are fine while a stony minerality is apparent. An excellent bubbly for all occasions. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Champagne/Sparkling Wines Cava – Spain Award Score Chairman's Trophy 94 Poema Brut Rosado Cava (Spain), $12.99 This sparkling wine carries a deep pink hue. The palate is driven by citrus, taking the form of tangerines, orange, and there is a hint of Californian persimmons. Dry, but with a delightfully fruity character. An easy quaffer. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Marques de la Concordia Millesime Reserva de la Familia Rose Brut Cava (Spain), $13.99 A lovely, light pink hue. Pit fruit aromas float from the glass. Bubbles charge onto the palate with a taste of peach and nectarine. Though the fruit here is intense, it is all enveloped in a mineral dryness that balances this wine completely. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Marques de la Concordia Seleccion Especial Brut 2012 Cava (Spain), $11.99 Straw hue with flecks of gold. Seville orange marmalade come through in the perfume. Citrus drives the palate in the form of orange, meyer lemon and clementines. Long, lingering acidity and a slightly richer palate than is usual for a Brut. A crowd pleasing sparkling wine. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Marques de la Concordia Millesime Reserva de Familia Brut 2009 Cava (Spain), $13.99 Bright, titillating bubbles with a nose that is reminiscent of smoke, along with dried Turkish apricots. Spice wafts from the glass, while the palate offers more dried fruits and cinnamon spice. Great for those that like a fruit-driven, yet dry, bubbly. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 88 Marques de la Concordia Seleccion Especial Rose Brut 2012 Cava (Spain), $11.99 This cava pours a pretty blush color with a creamy and persistent mousse. As the bubbles dissipate, fresh fruity and floral aromas emerge from the glass. The fruit carries on through to the palate. Dry and clean, yet lively and effervescent. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation Champagne/Sparkling Wines Prosecco - Italy Award Score Chairman's Trophy 95 Tenuta Ca'Bolani Prosecco Cervignano del Friuli (Italy), $18.99 A pale yellow-straw color in the glass, this prosecco bursts with aromas of peaches and nectarines, as well as white flowers. In the mouth, it’s crisp and refreshing, but with a creamy texture thanks to a persistent mousse and a clean finish. Great Value. Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 93 Zonin Prosecco Veneto (Italy), $14.99 Pale straw-colored, this softly effervescent prosecco is bursting with fresh aromas of summer fruits and flowers. Easy- drinking at a pleasant 11% ABV, it’s crisp ad refreshing on the palate, with a hint of minerality and a nice, clean finish. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 92 Avissi Prosecco Veneto (Italy), $13.00 This pale straw-colored prosecco pours with a fine, persistent fizz. As the bubbles dissipate, subtly peachy and floral aromas emerge from the glass. In the mouth, it’s crisp and refreshing with a clean finish. Lovely as an aperitif. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Astoria Prosecco Treviso (Italy), $13.99 This pale yellow prosecco pours with a fine, persistent mousse. Bursting with fruity aromas of peaches and berry bubblegum, it’s lively and refreshing citrus in the mouth. At just 11%, it’s an easy-drinking aperitif: dry with a hint sweetness. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Corte Giona Extra Dry Prosecco (Italy), $15.99 A delicate straw yellow in the glass with persistent bubbles. Plentiful citrus and orchard fruit aromas rise from the glass and on the palate it is dry, fruity, and mineral. A zippy acidity leads into the finish which is fruit-forward and exquisitely dry. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Menage a Trois Prosecco Veneto (Italy), $14.00 This lively, fruity prosecco pours with a fine, persistent fizz. As the effervescence settles down, notes of tart apple and citrus emerge with hints of candied fruit. Nose tickling and tongue prickling, it’s a perky bubbly with a clean finish. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Zardetto Brut Treviso Prosecco (Italy), $16.00 Pretty appearance that's a blizzard of small pinpoint bubbles. Nose is alive with garden fresh aromas of grapefruit, apricot, quince, white grapes. Entry and midpalate are zesty, piquant, spicy, citrusy, grapy, almost tonic-like. Finishes long, prickly, loaded with vivid grapy charm. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 89 Cupcake Prosecco Italy (Italy), $14.00 Pale yellow in the glass with fine, persistent bubbles, this prosecco is full of fresh, peachy and floral aromas. In the mouth it’s creamy yet bright, bursting with lemon-lime flavors and leaving you with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation Champagne/Sparkling Wines Asti/Moscato d’Asti – Italy Award Score 88 Cupcake 2014 Moscato d'Asti (Italy), $14.00 Decadent and honey-tinged with tropical mango, passion fruit, ripe melon, candied apple, and lemon. Sweet and luscious on the palate with tropical fruits abound and kiwi, lemon, and minerals. The finish is sweet and fruity. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation Champagne/Sparkling Wines Sparkling Red Wines – World Award Score 88 Yellow Tail Sangria Bubbles Yenda (Australia), $11.99 Ripe on the nose bursting with red raspberry, confectionary strawberry, lemon zest, cherry licorice, and sweet spice. On the palate it is juicy with red berry fruits, more lemon zest, blood orange and a balanced sweetness. The finish is fruity, with sweet red berry fruits. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation Champagne/Sparkling Wines Sparkling – USA Award Score Finalist 93 Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sonoma County (United States), $22.00 Opens with bright pear and green apple notes with a touch of honey and white flower. On the palate it is dry with orchard fruits accompanied by a brisk acidity and a fine mousse. The finish is dry with Granny Smith apple. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 92 Chateau Frank Brut 2008 Finger Lakes (United States), $24.99 This dry sparkler opens up with aromas of rising bread dough, giving way to fresh fruity notes of notes of citrus and stone fruit. It shows plenty of wet-slate minerality and a hint of the saline. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Barefoot Bubbly Red Moscato California (United States), $9.90 Fresh and lively nose of candied rose petal, clementine, strawberry jam, and red raspberries. On the palate it is sweet and fruit-forward with ripe strawberry, raspberry jam, and acai berry. The finish is sweet, fruity, and pleasant. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs Sonoma County (United States), $22.00 Incredibly fresh aromas of citrus and light toast are crisp and refreshing. In the mouth it is piquant with plenty of bright stone fruit flavors integrated with a nice toasted wood on the lip- smacking finish. Great Value. Excellent, Highly Recommended 89 Chronic Cellars Spritz & Giggles California (United States), $17.99 Clean aromas of pears and minerals are light and opulent. Small tight bubbles give way to a creamy mouthfeel that highlights apple and pear flavors mixed with rounded floral notes that continue to linger on the palate. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation 87 Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato California (United States), $9.99 White peaches and meyer lemon offer a balanced aroma. Tart and lightly sweet, it is fruity on the palate with hints of lemon candy and white flowers. The texture is light with a soft bubble. Great Value. Very Good, Strong Recommendation 87 Pink Zebra Pink Sparkling 2013 California (United States), $10.99 Aromas are pleasantly rich with cherries, berries and fruit blossoms.